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Restaurant

The Rice Den

30-32 Chandos St, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia

Recommended by 44 people

Updated

Find The Rice Den

30-32 Chandos St, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 477 179 889
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:30 PM Saturday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM Sunday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About The Rice Den

A lively Chandos Street spot delivering sharp contemporary Cantonese cooking with serious wok hei. Group tables fill fast for birthdays and family feasts around shared plates of Hervey Bay scallops with house XO and neatly pleated spicy BBQ pork dumplings. Tables regularly plan days ahead for the 48-hour shallot ginger crab, then close things out with airy Hong Kong French toast drizzled in dulce de leche and topped with vanilla ice cream.

  • Pre-Order Seafood Specialties: Specialty mud crabs and shallot ginger crab prepared with a rich house stock require 48 hours advance notice.
  • Signature Modern Desserts: Airy Hong Kong French toast with peanuts and dulce de leche, alongside Madeira cake fried ice cream.
  • Celebrations & Fast Weekday Lunches: Fast kitchen turnaround and a buzzy dining room steps from St Leonards station, built for easy work lunches and milestone family dinners.
RestaurantRestaurant

What's On at The Rice Den

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose The Rice Den

Contemporary Cantonese dining shaped by handcrafted dishes, multi-day specialty preparations, and celebratory hospitality.

  • Celebrated Milestone Gatherings

    Guests consistently mark significant milestones and family birthdays, supported by smooth, attentive hosting and celebratory group dining.

    Such a special place for a celebration. Would definitely come back again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

    Yoan Massie

  • Showstopping Feast Centerpieces

    Groups gather over celebratory banquet tables featuring specialty pre-order centrepieces like chilli mud crab and XO pippies.

    We had the most amazing time at Rice Den on Saturday night to celebrate our friends birthday. We ordered XO Pippies and a Chilli Mud crab and it was sensational, as was everything else.

    Jenny

  • Handcrafted Cantonese Dumplings

    The kitchen showcases contemporary Cantonese techniques, from neatly-pleated handmade dumplings to wok-tossed fried rice.

    The steamed dumplings were fresh, perfectly translucent, and had such a wonderful texture.

    Lina Meier

  • Modernized Signature Desserts

    The dessert menu offers innovative hybrid creations, pairing airy Hong Kong French toast with dulce de leche, peanuts, and vanilla ice cream.

    However, the true highlight of the meal was the Hong Kong French toast, which was delightfully airy and accompanied by silky vanilla ice cream, roasted peanuts, and a restrained drizzle of dulce de leche.

    S A

  • Genuine, Flawless Hospitality

    Warm, genuine hospitality and accommodating staff create an energetic, welcoming atmosphere throughout the dining room.

    The service from the minute we were welcomed til paying the bill was flawless. We had encounters with multiple staff and every single one of them were incredibly pleasant and welcoming.

    Dan Duncan

  • Delight in Labor-Intensive Craft

    Guests experience the joy of inventive, labor-intensive cooking like 48-hour stock shallot ginger crab and refined savory mains.

    Then came the shallot ginger crab—easily the best I’ve ever tasted, a dish so memorable it demands a 48-hour notice because of the care put into its stock.

    Jess Ji

Signature savory Cantonese dishes and specialties

  • Prawn toast

    the prawn toast impressed me with its clever twist of incorporating greens and sesame for improved texture.

    S A

  • Hervey Bay scallops

    Hervey Bay scallops ($8.50/each) are steamed and simply dressed with slivered shallots and house-made XO.

    Jackie McMillan

  • Sichuan chilli lamb backstrap

    the Sichuan chilli lamb backstrap ($38) we shared over fried rice as a tender, tasty main.

    Jackie McMillan

  • Shallot ginger crab

    Then came the shallot ginger crab—easily the best I’ve ever tasted, a dish so memorable it demands a 48-hour notice because of the care put into its stock.

    Jess Ji

Other favorites

Complementary signature desserts, sides, and crafted drinks

  • Hong Kong French toast

    the true highlight of the meal was the Hong Kong French toast, which was delightfully airy and accompanied by silky vanilla ice cream, roasted peanuts, and a restrained drizzle of dulce de leche.

    S A

  • Madeira cake fried ice cream

    The Madeira cake fried ice cream is amazing and an absolute must, to finish your night.

    Michael Wood

  • Garlic shallot fried rice

    the garlic shallot fried rice was a perfect harmony of flavors.

    Jess Ji

  • BB King cocktail

    For those that like Jack Daniels - give the BB King a go - that was something special.

    Dan Duncan

Beyond the menu

Memorable details that elevate contemporary Cantonese dining at The Rice Den

  • Warm Owner Table Visits

    The owner makes a point to visit tables throughout service to engage directly with guests.

  • 48-Hour Stock Preparation for Specialty Crab

    Signature banquet centerpieces like shallot ginger crab are prepared with stock nurtured across 48 hours of advance notice.

  • Chef-Tasted Fried Rice Seasoning

    Wok chefs individually taste each fried rice order before it leaves the kitchen to guarantee optimal flavor balance.

  • Heated Outdoor Table Setting

    Outdoor dining tables feature dedicated overhead heating to keep guests comfortable across seasonal changes.

Before you head over

Practical advice on pre-orders, reservations, and dessert planning for your visit

  • Pre-order specialty seafood ahead

    Specialty seafood centrepieces like the shallot ginger crab require 48 hours advance notice due to multi-day stock preparation, so secure these ahead when booking for group celebrations.

  • Reserve early for group gatherings

    The restaurant fills quickly on weeknights and weekends; secure a table reservation in advance, especially when organizing milestone birthday lunches and dinners.

  • Leave room for signature desserts

    Save room for dessert highlights like the Hong Kong French toast with dulce de leche and ice cream or Madeira cake fried ice cream before concluding your meal.

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